Each week the outreach team made up of farang (Western volunteers) and Thai staff visits different bars in Patpong, seeking to make contacts through friendship evangelism. We visit the open air bars in Patpong Soi 2 in the afternoons. Relationships are built more quickly here, as we often stop to talk to these women who we pass by each day.

The night bars are more difficult. The women are expected to dance semi naked. The music is loud, sometimes making it harder to hear, and we do not see the women as often. As we build relationships we tell the women about Rahab and what support and new opportunities we can offer them.

Rahab Bazaar was set up both as an income generation program and to offer alternative employment to women choosing to leave the bars. Making jewelry at Rahab enables the women to make something beautiful out of their lives that have been ugly and hard. It is also a time to build new relationships.

All our jewelry is made to a high standard using only the best materials.  We ensure strict quality control and it is sold all over the world.

Click here to learn more about Rahab Bazaar.

Once a woman has shown her commitment to working at Rahab and remaining out of the bars, she will be given the opportunity to retrain to improve her employments choices. Rahab women have trained in a number of areas including hair dressing, sewing and pattern making and nail art. Others have chosen to return to school to complete their education. Many of these women left school at a very young age and some have not had the opportunity to even learn to read and write.  Sponsorship is an important part of this opportunity.

One of our Directors, P’Sasitorn provides pastoral care to all the women at Rahab. Three times a week, she runs a bible study, offers counselling, discipleship, and healing with the help of others on the team.  Twice a week, English classes are taught at Rahab. These classes are also open to any bar girls wishing to attend.

Any women who choose to stop working in the bars at Patpong are offered alternative accommodation at Rahab House. It is run on Christian values and provides a family atmosphere and support as the women regain confidence in themselves. Some women are reunited with their children, who have been living back in their villages. In addition, all the women living at Rahab House attend Jaisamarn Church.

We have set up two computers in the salon to provide internet access, encouraging the bar girls to communicate with their family and friends. This service is provided free of charge and is supervised by Rahab workers. It provides another opportunity to build relationships with women from the bars as Rahab assists them with their English.